Macomb Tuition Advantage: Free Tuition Opportunities for Eligible Students

Macomb Community College is committed to transforming lives and communities through education, enrichment, and economic development. In line with this commitment, Macomb Community College is removing financial barriers to earning a degree with the introduction of the Macomb Tuition Advantage program. This initiative aims to provide free tuition to eligible students, making higher education more accessible.

Overview of the Macomb Tuition Advantage Program

Macomb Tuition Advantage, effective immediately, will provide free tuition to Macomb students with a combined family income of $70,000 or less. The Macomb Tuition Advantage program is open to anyone attending or interested in attending the college. The program is open to those already attending Macomb or those who plan to start at the college in the fall and are pursuing an associate degree program.

“We’ve been working on this for the last several months. We’re always looking for opportunities to provide additional support,” Macomb President James O. Sawyer IV said. The college announced the Macomb Tuition Advantage program Tuesday. “It’s another attempt to reduce the financial barriers we know that exist for some students," college President Jim Sawyer said, adding this is an effort to "grow the college-going culture in Macomb County, and we’re really trying to incentivize completion, too. “Earning a college credential remains a key factor in sustainable employment and earnings," said James O. Sawyer IV, president, Macomb Community College. “Macomb Tuition Advantage is building on this proven approach and taking it a step further by broadening access to critical financial support to those who need it,” he continued.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Macomb Tuition Advantage, students must meet certain criteria:

Family income is at or below $70,000. The person’s annual family income must be $70,000 or less.
Family assets are worth $50,000 or less.
Attend MCC full-time (a minimum of 12 credits each semester). Students must be enrolled full time, which is a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. From a parent perspective, the college would really like to see the support of enrolling the student full time.
Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater. Students enrolled in the Macomb Tuition Advantage program must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.
Progress toward an associate degree. The program is open to those already attending Macomb Community College or those who plan to start studying at the college in the fall and are pursuing an associate degree.
Fill out a FAFSA each year of eligibility (up to three academic years). The person must be a registered student at the college and have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, according to a news release. In order to qualify for the MCC program, a student must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Students can participate in the program for up to three years.

Read also: The Legacy of Macomb

How the Program Works

Students do not have to apply to participate in the tuition-free program. The college says enrolled students will automatically qualify and don’t have to fill anything out. There are still some steps students must take, though.

According to the college, students must first fill out their FAFSA to determine what federal and state financial aid benefits they may qualify for. Federal and state grants the student is eligible for will be applied first, with the community college’s program covering the remainder of tuition and fees owed. Any federal and state grants the student is eligible for will be applied first, with Macomb’s program covering the remainder of tuition and fees owed.

Once those benefits are applied, MCC will cover the remaining cost of tuition for the eligible student. “The college will cover the balance." Macomb's program will cover the remainder of tuition and fees owed. The Macomb Tuition Advantage will be what is known as a "last dollar scholarship." That means that students will first have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and get federal and state financial aid and apply that to their tuition costs, such as the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which will provide up to $2,750 annually for students to attend a community college beginning in the fall.

Any qualifying student can extend their aid from MCC for up to three years.

Funding and Financial Aid

The funding for the Macomb Tuition Advantage will be provided by the Macomb Community College Foundation. Sawyer said the Macomb Community College Foundation made a commitment to provide the funds to support the program. No general funds from the college will be used. The foundation raises money for educational scholarships for Macomb students. Contributions are deductible on federal tax returns and are eligible for State of Michigan tax credits. “A lot of the scholarships are endowments,” Sawyer said.

Read also: Explore Macomb Programs

It is important to note that this is not a loan. “This is not a loan,” Sawyer said.

Nearly 42% of the college’s current students receive some form of financial aid and 28% receive Pell Grants, which are federal aid awards to those who display exceptional financial need. About 28% of students receive federal Pell Grants, which usually are awarded only to undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

As per the press release, the state also has introduced a new program for 2023 high school graduates known as the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Impact and Goals

Officials said Tuesday that they estimate about half of their 15,000 existing students would qualify for the tuition-free program. Nearly 15,000 students are enrolled in the school, according to the release. About half of them, it states, would have qualified under the financial requirements of the new program. While the median household income in Macomb County is $67,828, per the release, and the college states its tuition rate is one of the lowest among the 31 community colleges in Michigan, cost is a barrier for some.

The program is aimed at incentivizing full-time attendance, which leads to higher rates of degree completion, Sawyer said.

Read also: Explore Macomb's Courses

“We have seen programs that take tuition and fees out of the equation for prospective students, such as Michigan Reconnect, are a real game-changer for many members of our community,” said Sawyer. Macomb Tuition Advantage also supports the Sixty by 30 initiative of Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, which is working to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 50.5% to 60% by 2030. "Macomb Community College’s announcement today is a bold step to ensure all students have access to a college education," said Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association. "We applaud Macomb for designing a tuition-guarantee that is student-centric. As our state's largest community college, this program at MCC will no doubt help the state reach its Sixty by 30 postsecondary educational attainment goal," Johnson said, referring to a statewide initiative designed to increase the number of working-age Michigan residents with a degree or skills certificate to 60% by 2030. The graduation rate was 33% for credential-seeking students, including part-time students, who began their studies in fall 2015 and completed within six years.

Additional Opportunities at Macomb Community College

Wayne Advantage-Macomb (WA-M)

Earn your associate degree at Macomb Community College while getting a head start on your Wayne State bachelor’s degree. As a Wayne Advantage-Macomb student, you are admitted to both Wayne State University and Macomb Community College, allowing you to take classes at one or both institutions in the same semester. This flexible option saves you time, money and helps you stay on track for a smooth transfer or timely graduation.

As a WA-M student, you’ll have access to the full benefits of being a Wayne State Warrior, including:

Wayne State libraries and research resources
WSU OneCard (student ID, library access, and more)
Academic Success Center and Career Services support
Comprehensive advising from both schools (academic and transfer)
Student events, organizations, and study abroad opportunities

To apply:

Apply to both Macomb Community College and Wayne State University
File the FAFSA (using Wayne State’s school code: 002329) to be considered for financial aid.
Opt-in to WA-M
Register for classes at Macomb and/or Wayne State before the start of the semester.

You can enroll at Wayne State, Macomb, or both. To receive WA-M benefits, you must be registered at least one institution at the start of each semester. You’ll receive separate bills from each institution. If you applied for financial aid, it will be processed only through Wayne State. Macomb Community College will require tuition payment up front.

Your financial aid is processed and awarded through Wayne State, even if you’re taking classes at both schools. Aid is based on your combined credit hours at both institutions (only courses that transfer to Wayne State will be considered).

Most college-level courses with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher will transfer. Use the transfer equivalency tool to see how your Macomb courses apply toward your Wayne State degree.

The following students are not eligible to participate in the WA-M:

International students; F-1 or j-1 visas
Varsity and club sports athletes (sport governing bodies, eligibility requirements and other considerations impact eligibility)
Wayne State merit scholars first semester only
Graduate and post-bachelor students

As a WA-M student, you’ll be a Monarch and Warrior with access to resources and services at both institutions.

Community College Guarantee

The scholarship covers tuition at the in-district rate and mandatory fees for eligible high school students who want to earn a skill certificate or degree, regardless of their family's income! Additionally, Pell Grant-eligible students can receive an extra $1,000 award to help cover college expenses beyond tuition.

Tuition Incentive Program

This programs Michigan’s Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) may pay for your tuition (in-district tuition, registration and mandatory fees for up to 80 credit hours) for those that qualify.

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